SFU graduate develops $1,999 3D printer that lets you print objects at home

DH Vancouver StaffMay 12, 2014 8:20 am

Vancouver-based entrepreneur Eugene Suyu has developed Canada’s first 3D printer, the DittoPro. Priced at $1,999, it is being hailed as the prosumer industry’s first affordable printer.

Tinkerine Studios launched the 3D printer on Thursday last week and is expected to commence shipping next month.

The DittoPro is the first of its kind in the prosumer market, which is a market that offers professional equipment at consumer level price. Its equipment is 40 to 50 per cent smaller than most 3D printers.

“Once you see one of these units run as a designer, you then realize how many things you can make with it,” said Suyu. “Six years ago the 3D printing technology was really expensive and because of that I opted to create my own.”

Suyu graduated from Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University and since then has transformed his hobby into a profession.

The prosumer market has a large demand for Suyu’s 3D printer and will provide architects, engineers and those working in the educational and research fields with a new way of producing their models. Given the advantages of learning with 3D printing, he said that the company is working on an initiative to introduce 3D printing hardware and software to education curriculums.

Suyu’s 3D printer works on technology that is both accessible and affordable for consumers. The printer layers plastic upon plastic until the 3D model is completed.

“The DittoPro’s performance in terms of reliability, speed and resolution are all very comparable to both industry leaders in the industrial sector and those in the consumer sector,” added Suyu.

In terms of funding, Tinkerine wanted to use as little cash as possible to develop the DittoPro. Suyu said that being Canada’s first publicly listed 3D printing manufacturing company is great because they now have the capital to grow.

Images: Tinkerine

DH Vancouver Staff

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